The latest news, trends, analysis, interviews and podcasts from the global food and beverage industry

Arla Foods Ingredients has reached an agreement to acquire Volac's Whey Nutrition business, for an undisclosed sum. UK-based dairy company Volac specialises in turning whey into ingredients for sports nutrition. Through the deal, Arla Foods Ingredients will purchase the Whey Nutrition division of Volac’s business through a purchase of the shares in Volac Whey Nutrition Holdings and its subsidiaries, Volac Whey Nutrition and Volac Renewable Energy. The acquisition – which includes Volac’s whey processing facility in Felinfach, Wales, UK – will see the site become Arla’s global whey production hub where the company will develop its product offerings for the performance, health and food sectors. For Volac, this sale will provide the springboard for the optimal development of the Whey Nutrition Business as well as Volac’s remaining Animal Nutrition Business. Luis Cubel, group VP and MD of Arla Foods Ingredients, said: “This brings together two complementary offerings in a growing and increasingly international space for whey products. Volac is a pioneer in the use of whey protein for performance nutrition and has a wealth of expertise as well as an incredibly talented team. It shares our commitment to helping companies worldwide harness the full potential of whey, and we’re hugely excited about the opportunities that lie ahead.” James Neville, joint owner of Volac, added: “Whey processing started at the Felinfach site more than three decades ago, and we couldn’t be prouder of everything that’s been achieved by everyone involved in the business since then. When considering the future of Volac Whey Nutrition and the opportunities that lie ahead for that business, it was crucial for us to choose a partner with the right values and expertise. Arla Foods Ingredients has the ambition and the knowledge to take the business to the next level.” Volac Whey Nutrition’s portfolio includes the Volactive range, while Arla Foods Ingredients’ portfolio includes the Lacprodan solutions for sports nutrition applications. This is the latest in a number of offloadings for Volac. In January, Dutch-based Denkavit Group acquired Volac's Milk Replacer business and in September last year, Volac exited its MV Ingredients joint venture with Arla Foods Ingredients, of which Arla took full control. Completion of the transaction is expected later this year and is subject to required regulatory approvals.